Singh: Failure of ACA ‘Skinny Repeal’ a Victory for Millions of Michiganders

Nearly 700,000 to stay on Healthy Michigan Plan as ACA remains intact

Friday, July 28, 2017

LANSING — The failure of U.S. Senate Republicans to pass the “skinny repeal” of the Affordable Care Act in the early hours of Friday morning means that 677,019 Michiganders who are on the Healthy Michigan plan will retain their health care coverage, and that 4.4 million state residents with pre-existing conditions such as asthma and cancer can breathe easier about their ability to obtain affordable health care, House Democratic Leader Sam Singh (D-East Lansing) said Friday.

“Last night’s defeat of the Senate Republican ‘skinny repeal’ bill was a major win for the American people. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that millions would have lost coverage and premiums would have skyrocketed in its first year of implementation,” Leader Singh said. “For now, women, seniors and those with pre-existing conditions will continue to receive the live-saving health coverage they need. But this fight is far from over. It is more important than ever that our state prioritize protecting the healthcare of our most vulnerable residents. Michigan’s Health Care Bill of Rights will ensure that all Michiganders continue to receive quality, affordable and accessible healthcare coverage, regardless of what happens at the federal level.”

The Michigan Health Care Bill of Rights, or House Resolution 139, would:

Protect People with Pre-existing Conditions

Stop the Republican ‘Age Tax’

Prevent Massive Rate Hikes

Protect Essential Health Benefits

Prevents Annual or Lifetime Health Care Coverage Caps

If Washington Republicans repeal the ACA without the Michigan Health Care Bill of Rights in place, the state of Michigan and its residents could face the following serious consequences, according to Families USA:

The state of Michigan will lose $3.1 billion in Medicaid and CHIP funding it receives through the ACA, burdening an already strained state budget.

Lifetime caps on coverage, which had existed on plans that covered 3.5 million Michiganders but were abolished by the ACA, could be reinstated.

Women could again be charged more for the same health care plan as men — before the ACA, Michigan women were charged up to 32 percent more.

The Medicare “donut hole” would re-open, costing seniors and people with disabilities millions of dollars in prescription drug coverage. The ACA closed the donut hole, saving Michiganders with Medicare $838 million in 2015.

275,000 Michiganders who receive financial assistance to pay for health care will lose it, and may no longer be able to afford health care.

Also, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, about 73,000 Michigan young adults between the ages of 18-26 who are on their parents’ health care plans under a provision of the ACA could lose coverage.